Columbus Blue Jackets
Ryan Reaves vs. Mathieu Olivier Epic Fight Ends In Massive Surprise
The Reaves vs Olivier fight left fans stunned! Discover how Mathieu Olivier earned a TKO over Ryan Reaves in an epic showdown.
Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Olivier delivered one of the most jaw-dropping fights the NHL has seen in years, and it ended in a way almost no one expected. Two of the NHL’s biggest heavyweights went toe-to-toe, and a guy who had never been “caught” before dropped.
During their heavyweight showdown, Olivier dropped Reaves with a decisive punch, earning what many are calling a clear TKO. For context, Reaves has long been viewed as the league’s top enforcer — a player who rarely loses a fight, let alone gets knocked down. This marked the first time in his NHL career that Reaves admitted he’d truly been “caught.”
The fight further cemented Olivier’s growing reputation. According to HockeyFights voting, Olivier has now won all 21 of his fights over the past two seasons, an incredible run against some of the league’s toughest players.
Reaves Wants to Go Round II
After the game, Reaves explained why he took the scrap. “Olivier asked me. If I say no, and I need one later, he’s going to say no. There aren’t a lot of guys who are willing to give guys anymore. You know I know in the future I’m going to need one from him, and I know he’ll give it to me. That’s all that was.”
After the media asked him what came next after being knocked down like that, Reaves walked through the standard concussion protocol players face following a knockout, joking about having to recite words and say the months of the year backward. He passed the tests “with flying colors,” he said.
Still, he gave Olivier his props. “He’s one of the toughest guys in the league,” Reaves said. “I’m 38 and getting a little older. Eventually, I was going to get caught — and today was the day.”
Reaves made it clear the fight wasn’t personal. Instead, it was about respect and the unwritten code among enforcers — one that suggests this rivalry isn’t finished yet.
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